Martin Plowman summarised events fairly well after team-mate Kelvin Fletcher had clinched a remarkable maiden British GT victory for their Paddock Motorsport outfit in a madcap second race at Oulton Park from 14th on the grid.
“I think like a lot of people we were a bit confused,” he told Autosport. “I didn’t know what was going on half the time.”
The race result remains provisional following a protest by RAM Racing into the application of race one’s success seconds to the post-race order, citing the lack of a specific regulation to cover the eventuality of a red flag during the pitstop cycle. The protest was rejected, but the team has lodged its intention to appeal to the National Court.
It certainly was an unprecedented situation, and contributed to what British GT returnee Benji Hetherington rightly described as “one of the most bizarre races” he’d ever encountered, with a proliferation of post-race penalties – including 14 seconds added to the race time of every GT4 Silver crew – muddling the order.
“Obviously, the circumstances were out of everyone’s control,” remarked Valluga Racing Porsche boss Hetherington, who was classified fifth in GT4. “I think to be fair, British GT handled it really well.”
Naturally, not everybody agreed, but most believed it was the only thing British GT could do under the circumstances. But is it what the weekend will be remembered for? Of course not.
It’s the phenomenal race one scrap for victory between Adam Carroll and Jules Gounon that will live long in the memory, a battle that showcased the very best of British GT and left Oulton Park enthralled. The respect between the two combatants after running nose to tail for lap after lap, with AMG factory driver Gounon inching alongside and crossing the line ahead to start the final tour, was obvious for all to see. The pair embraced each other in parc ferme after two inch-perfect drives.
Balfe congratulates team-mate Carroll after his successful…
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